Colette, Maison Lumiere: Unveiling New Works at Destination Windows and Art Space

“At the core of Colette’s works is a nomadic principle, an openness to any media, materials or cultural neywork as a means of circulation images or ideas” Jonathan Crary – 1983 Arts Magazine

New York, NY – In keeping with her tradition of exhibiting her art in unexpected places, the legendary multifaceted artist Colette will unveil “Metaphysical Portraits” at Destination NY, in the heart of the meatpacking district. These works were created in her DUMBO atelier (2008-2009) at the Marie Walsh Sharpe Art Foundation. In contrast to her earlier work, which is known for its Baroque aesthetic, these portraits are minimal in style.

During her stay at the Foundation Studios, Colette also completed a short-film, "The Last Days of Pearl Street," about the demolition of Maison Lumiére, her historical downtown Manhattan atelier. The series of performance paintings and photo images related to street tableaux she performed while witnessing the destruction were integrated in her studio installation titled ”That’s All She Wrote.” They will also be on view at destination.

In 2009, Colette was featured in "React Feminism" at Berlin’s Akademie Der Künste. Her multi-media installation included a live model re-enacting Colette, a.k.a. Justine, in her memorable “Beautiful Dreamer” performances, as well as a presentation of her groundbreaking street and window installations of the ‘70s and ‘80s. Her first appearance at the Akademie was in the exhibition “SOHO New York 77.” She turned the art world upside down with her sensational silk installation, which had her reclining nude with another female, titled “In Memory of Ophelia and All Those Who Have Died of Love and Madness.”

During her recent stay in Germany, Colette also participated in "Interieur Exterieur" at the Wolfsburg Museum on display through April 2009. (The Museum had requested that she reconstruct her legendary Pearl Street environment for the exhibition. A more manageable work was contributed.) Last December in Berlin, a video marathon of her life and work was held in the “Colette Lounge” at the Starke Foundation. The videos shown included the 1979 cult classic, “Justine and the Boys,” filmed by Robert Polidori and co-starring Jeff Koons, and Richard Prince. The marathon also included films Colette made in collaboration with filmmakers Charlie Ahearn, Michel Auder, Anton Perich, Paul Tschinkel and Enzio Copia.

This December, her videos were on view in “Indomitable Women” at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Barcelona, Spain. Earlier in 2009, a selection of her metaphysical portraits was introduced at the Black and White Gallery, Chelsea, New York. This fall, “Records from the Story of Her Life 1978-2007” were exhibited at “Pose-Expose,” IMO Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark. Dinter Gallery in New York City presented “That’s All She Wrote,” in their online project room. Works from “La Vie en Rose” are currently on view at HPGRP Gallery. She is included in “A Hundred Years of Performance” at PS 1.

While exhibiting her works in galleries and museums and continuing her commissioned portraits, Colette plans to continue her dialogue with larger audiences in public venues by “Colettesizing,” transforming spaces such as windows, hotel suites, lounges, clubs, stores and even sacred spaces. In 2005, she was commissioned to transform an entire floor of the HPGRP building in Tokyo into a “Gesumpkunstwerk,” which incorporated her paintings, sculptures, fashion and furniture designs entitled, “The Bedroom.”